Sheridan to opt out of selling licenses

SHERIDAN – Sheridan residents will no longer be able to go to the town for hunting or fishing licenses. The town has opted out of selling the licenses after new regulations were implemented by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Town Clerk Julie Szumigala made the announcement at the monthly board meeting. The state DEC sent the town a letter of notification it will transition to a newly automated licensing system. The state is requiring all agents to turn in the state-owned computers, purchase their own computer and be retrained on a new program. Szumigala says the town only takes in about $110 each year for licenses.

“How many years are we going to have to sell licenses to pay for the hardware we’ll have to buy?” Szumigala asked. “I don’t feel it’s worth the price of what it’s going to take to get retrained and purchase all the hardware for $100 a year.”

Szumigala said this is the first time the DEC has offered the option to opt out for municipalities. She said she does not feel opting out will hurt residents since licenses can be purchased elsewhere. Resi-dents can still buy licenses through other town or village clerks and at sporting goods stores. The DEC’s website allows for residents to purchase a license online or by phone.